Bangkok

November 26:When I arrived in Bangkok, I took a taxi to get to my friend’s house because it was very late in the afternoon. Bangkok is a huge megapole !!!! It took 2 hrs to do 30 km. We got stuck in the traffic !

It was finally a pleasure to meet my co-worker’s brother and wife. Francois is working for the Canadian ambassady. They are renting a nice villa right donwtown of Bangkok. Such a pleasure to sleep in a very cozy bed with AC, after a qucki dip at midnight in the pool 😉 Canadian confort !I laugh when one of my friend told me this had to stop…too much luxury in the last month (villa, king and queen in Bali)..it was a bit too easy for someone who was travelling the world on her bike.

November 27: Because riding solo means a lot of freedom, today I went to the Myanmar’s ambassady to apply for a visa. In this trip, I never thought to go to Mynmar. When I sat on the coach, I saw Lonely planet of Myanmar. Ya right ! Why not going to Myanmar, I told myself outloud ! Instead of biking in Thailand to reach Chang Rai (north of thailand), I can get there from Myanmar. It should be a unique experience. Myanmar is still remote and undevelop. The border’s regulation have changed only few months ago. Before, you could only enter and exit from the same point. The banks are still using paper and not computer…Not so many cyclists have been there because you could not transit to Myanmar to go to another country. I’m very excited to visit this untouch country ! South-East Asia received a massive amount of tourist …it may not be the same in few years. This is my chance !

Brought my bike to a bike shop for maintenance and tune-up. I believe bangkok is the best place to do it until the end of my trip. I don’t like to wait until something break, I prefer doing a maintenance..

November 29: Today, I went with the house made for shopping. We cooked together. She thaugh me to cook a Thai dish. We went to Villa supermarket. WOWWWWW !!! I have not seen such a nice supermarket since months !!! A tiny IGA ! This is exciting but looking at the price, it turn me off quicky enough. Been in Asia for months, I’m not use anymore to Canadian’s price. Did not get to crazy and we only bought what we needed for dinner. I have enjoyed cooking in a nice bige clean kitchen and drink a beer. I had a assistant chef. Maeva has helped me to cut the onions.

November 30: I had dream to go back to the Chatuchak’s market for years. This place is awesome. They have everything from Cowboy boots to furnitures, clothes..Everything is cheap and very nice. I think Chatuchak is the biggest market in the world. I wuld say there are too many nice shop ! Can you believe that. I went there from 10 to 18 pm noun stop ! This place is great because no shop »s owner is harrasing you while you are shopping. This is rare ! Thai’s people are like in my souvenir. They have not change. They always do their best to try to help and they are very calm people. PLus, there is some AC section so..you don’t sweat like hell while shopping. Really, its a must to do. Because I miss clothe, I bought two vintage dresses. One for 5 $ and the other one for 10 $ ! Everytime I do such a trip, I come back more feminine because I’m missing clothing !

November 31: Today, I went to a book store. I miss reading so much ! It can be hard to find some english books while travelling outside of toursit area.I found the best book ever : the world until yesterday: what can we learn from traditional societies ? Please refer on my blog to the menu link (book). I have written more informations about this book on this section.

When I went at the book store, I took the Myanmar’s lonely planet, went quickly trhu some pages and found some informations about mediation center (vipassana) in Myanmar. This is something I always wanted to do. But, having only 4 weeks off per year in Canada, this is not something I was thinking seriously to do. I had heard from many people this was a life changing experience but also, the hardest one they had encounter. I believe everything happen for a reason…To me, this was a sign. Something I should do in this trip. Why would I went straight to this page ! Riding my bike solo, I have so much time to think. Coming from far away in my life, I felt this would be another amazing experience that would help me to push my thoughts and grow up. Plus, according to the guidebook, Myanmar is the best place to do it in South-East-Asia. Without thinking too much, I went on the website and I have suscribed. The course is beginning on December 17. When I got an automatic confirmation, they said it could take up to 2 weeks to have a reservation’s confirmation. Then I told myself, if its meant to be, It will happen. If not, it mean something better will happen !

December 1:

This is the message I got this morning in my email.

Warmly welcome to Dhamma Mandala. Your application is accepted and we are pleased to invite you to join the 10-day Vipassana Meditation course starting from 17th December, 2014. Please copy the attached file of our center address in Burmese which is useful for taxi.

May you find a peaceful life with true Dhamma and share for all. So funny, at the moment I read the message, I got two opposite emotions simultanly. I smile with joy and I said outloud a big F?&%&?%&! This is it ! There are no turning point.There is..but it would be stupid to miss this chance. I think I would regret it If I was cancelling it. This is how I make my choice. I listen at my inner voice and wonder if I will regret. But this is scaring me. I’m riding my bike over the world on unknow path and..I feel much more nervous about this experience. Some of my friends had told me that this experience has been a life changing experience but also, the hardest experience of their life.

Here is what will be my routine for 10 days…and you are not alllowed to talk for the whole time ! Only when its time the interveiw with theteacher and question time in the hall. It look so much fun right ? 😉

4:00 am Morning wake-up bell 4:30-6:30 am Meditate in the hall or in your room 6:30-8:00 am Breakfast break 8:00-9:00 am Group meditation in the hall 9:00-11:00 am Meditate in the hall or in your room according to the teacher’s instructions 11:00-12:00 noon Lunch break 12noon-1:00 pm Rest and interviews with the teacher 1:00-2:30 pm Meditate in the hall or in your room 2:30-3:30 pm Group meditation in the hall 3:30-5:00 pm Meditate in the hall or in your own room according to the teacher’s instructions 5:00-6:00 pm Tea break 6:00-7:00 pm Group meditation in the hall 7:00-8:15 pm Teacher’s Discourse in the hall 8:15-9:00 pm Group meditation in the hall 9:00-9:30 pm Question time in the hall 9:30 pm Retire to your own room–Lights out The Vipassana’s mediation course is worldwide known ! There are many centers all over the world, including in Canada. Near home, they is a center in Montebello and in Memphremagog. The 10 days is an introduction’s class which will teach me step by step the vipassana’s meditation. This is the basic course.

Vipassana is one of India’s most ancient meditation techniques. Long lost to humanity, it was rediscovered by Gotama the Buddha more than 2500 years ago. The word Vipassana means seeing things as they really are. It is the process of self- purification by self-observation.

Without thinking too much, I went on the website and I have suscribed. The course is beginning on December 17. When I got an automatic confirmation, they said it could take up to 2 weeks to have a reservation’s confirmation. Then I told myself, if its meant to be, It will happen. If not, it mean something better will happen !